The Brag Sheet: Helping Others Help You
A teacher cannot write a great recommendation letter if they don't know your full story. Most teachers see one side of you --- the student who sits in row three. The Brag Sheet gives them the rest.
ℹ️ Why This Matters
Teachers write dozens of recommendation letters each fall. The students who provide a thoughtful Brag Sheet get the most specific, compelling letters. Generic input produces generic output.
How to Use This
- Fill out the template below honestly and specifically
- Give it to your recommender at least 4 weeks before the earliest deadline
- Include it when you formally ask for the letter (see the Email Etiquette guide for a request template)
The Brag Sheet Template
Tips for Filling It Out
⚠️ Be Specific, Not Vague
"I worked hard in your class" tells the teacher nothing they can use. "I spent three weekends rewriting my research paper on urban heat islands because I wanted to get the data analysis right" gives them a concrete story to tell.
What "Specific" Looks Like
| Vague (Unhelpful) | Specific (Powerful) |
|---|---|
| "I'm a hard worker" | "I came to office hours 6 times to master stoichiometry" |
| "I like helping people" | "I tutored 3 classmates in AP Bio and they all passed the exam" |
| "I overcame challenges" | "I balanced 20 hours of work at my family's restaurant with a full AP course load" |
| "I want to study science" | "I want to research antibiotic resistance because of my grandmother's MRSA infection" |
Which Brag Sheet response would help a teacher write the strongest recommendation letter?
💡 Egret's Wisdom
"The Egret does not wait for the fish to announce itself. It watches, it learns, and then it acts with precision. Give your recommenders the details they need to advocate for you with that same precision."